Ask the Accountant Podcast

Join Aaron and Johann, experienced accountants and entrepreneurs weekly on Ask the Accountant, where they discuss various topics revolving around the accounting industry and give business advice and updates.Every Monday from 8:30 am.Don't forget to check out all our other content such as our 'Cool Friends', 'Pitstop Podcasts' and more!https://linktr.ee/asktheaccountant#Accountant #Podcast #Bookkeeper

**Welcome to the Ask the Accountant Network 🎙️**

More than a podcast, we’re a network of accountants, creators and industry voices bringing you conversations about accounting, business, technology and everything happening across the profession.

👋 **Meet the network:**

Aaron Patrick

Johann Goree

Amy Hancock

Tim Chilestone

James Goulsbra

Suzannah Whelan

Charlie Carne

Producer Kelly 🎬

🔴 **Ask the Accountant LIVE every Monday from 8:30am**, bringing the network together to discuss the latest news, tech, trends and talking points from across the accounting world.

And there’s plenty more across the network, including podcasts, interviews, **Grid Walks, Podcast Pitstops**, event coverage, industry reactions and conversations with some of the biggest names in accounting and fintech.

Sometimes serious. Sometimes slightly chaotic. Always accounting. 😂

🔗 **Find the whole network, our latest content, socials and everything else here:**

https://linktr.ee/asktheaccountant

🔔 **Subscribe and join the conversation!**

Don't forget to check out all our other content such as our 'Cool Friends', 'Pitstop Podcasts' and more!

https://linktr.ee/asktheaccountant

#Accountant #Podcast #Bookkeeper

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Why do accountants get so defensive about new tech? This episode dissects the industry's anxiety around the biggest trends, from HMRC's chaotic MFA rollout and Tide's "no accountant needed" payroll to Revolut's new facial recognition payments. Aaron and Johann argue that the fear of being replaced is misplaced.

This conversation is for any accountant or bookkeeper feeling threatened by fintech and DIY tools. You'll learn why clients who prioritise low costs over expert advice were never your ideal clients, how to navigate flawed tech rollouts from major players, and why the real opportunity lies in shifting your focus to high-value advisory work for clients who understand and are willing to pay for your expertise. Instead of complaining about the "unserved" market, it's time to get confident in the value you provide and attract the clients you actually want.

Ready to change your perspective? Listen to the full episode on your favourite podcast platform.

00:00 Are DIY Clients Worth Fighting For?00:54 Valuing Professional Advice: An IT Analogy02:08 Why We Must Accept a Lack of Value02:51 The Anxiety of the Accounting Profession03:41 The Journey of a Micro-Business04:36 The "Health Warning" Approach to DIY Accounting

Fresh from a bustling Accountex North in Manchester, Aaron and Johann share their full debrief, discussing whether event fatigue is hitting the industry.

The main event, however, is the breaking news from the world of accounting tech. First, they analyse the 2026 Luca Awards finalists, category by category, debating contenders for AI Innovation and Emerging App of the Year.

Then, they tackle the Apron pricing controversy. Following listener comments about a 400% price hike, Johann reveals his firm's new strategy: moving high-volume clients back to Dext. The hosts analyse whether Apron's push for a full ecosystem justifies the cost, especially as native bookkeeping software improves its own data capture features. This is a must-listen for any accountant or bookkeeper re-evaluating their tech stack and budget in response to market changes.

Listen now on your favourite podcast platform.

00:00 Accountex Recap & Apology Corner

02:05 The 'Gridwalk' & Upcoming Content

03:00 Luca Awards 2026 Shortlist Reaction

04:36 Community Comments: The Apron Price Uproar

05:19 Our New Strategy: Moving Clients to Dext

07:31 Does Apron's Ecosystem Justify the Cost?

08:00 Was Accountex Quieter This Year?

09:16 Event Fatigue & The Shrinking Data Capture Market

10:35 Luca Awards: Emerging App of the Year

QuickBooks expert Aaron Patrick issues a candid apology to Xero and outlines five features QuickBooks should adopt. Aaron and Johann also unpack Capium’s big updates, call out clickbait in industry media, share frustrations with MTD for ITSA auto-enrolment, and debate whether Apple’s new folding phone and watch AI note-taking can truly boost accountants’ productivity.

This week on Tech Labs, Aaron Patrick is joined by Charlie Khan (QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Facebook Group) and Simon Williams (Software Advisory Manager, Walton Smith) to unpack the biggest accounting tech stories of the month.

Xero has had one of its roughest weeks in memory — a viral influencer post claiming you can "replace your accountant with Xero and AI" sparked a backlash across the profession, followed swiftly by the rollout of DIY company accounts filing straight to end clients, and then an auto-sent management report pack that went out to clients without warning (Aaron owns up to getting some of the details wrong in his own viral post about it).

Elsewhere: Capium's new pricing structure gets compared favourably against some of the industry's less generous price rises, the QuickBooks mobile app gets a long-overdue overhaul, Apron payments lands natively inside QuickBooks, and Aaron gives a big shout-out to Sage Embedded Services with Tide as one to watch. Plus: should accountants be offering more consultancy services, and a look at new CIS invoicing tools in TaxSolo.

Timestamps below.

Tech Labs airs live on the second Wednesday of every month at 12:30 — join us live to get involved in the chat.

Subscribe for more from Ask the Accountant, and check out The QuickBooks Chap for weekly QuickBooks content.

#AccountingTech #Xero #QuickBooks #MakingTaxDigital #AccountingSoftware #Bookkeeping

In a sudden storm of controversy, Xero has managed to upset its partner community with a series of major blunders. When a paid influencer post suggested replacing accountants with Xero and AI, the industry erupted. This was compounded by the launch of a controversial £120 "micro accounts" filing service and a chaotic rollout of a new 'Analytics Plus' feature, which was enabled by default and sent unauthorised reports to clients.

In this episode, Aaron Patrick and Johann Goree unpack the drama. They argue the intense backlash reveals a deeper insecurity within the profession about the value accountants provide. They discuss the critical importance of opt-in consent, the professional risks of unverified automated reports, and why a strong client relationship is the best defense.

This is a must-listen for any Xero partner trying to make sense of the events and what they mean for the future of the accountant-software provider relationship. Find out what happened, what Xero could have done differently, and what lessons your firm can learn.

• 00:00 - The Xero Analytics Plus Controversy Begins

  The main topic is introduced: Xero has launched a series of new features and campaigns, causing significant backlash in the accounting community.

  • Mentioned: Xero (Analytics Plus)

• 00:19 - Was it Misinformation?

  Aaron questions whether he was guilty of spreading misinformation after his social media post about the feature went viral, based on claims it was from accountants' own email addresses.

  • Mentioned: Aaron Patrick

• 00:46 - Johann's Different Experience & Inconsistent Rollouts

  Johann explains that his experience with the Analytics Plus rollout was different, receiving a clear pop-up, highlighting the inconsistent and confusing nature of the updates.

  • Mentioned: Johann Goree, Xero (Business Snapshot)

• 01:06 - The Problem with Opt-Out by Default

  The hosts agree that the core issue is features being 'opt-out' rather than 'opt-in', which goes against user expectations and best practices like GDPR, and creates liability for accountants.

  • Mentioned: Sift Analytics, Apple

• 02:00 - The Real Problem: Industry Insecurity & The Call for Transparency

  The conversation shifts to the idea that the intense reaction reveals a fundamental insecurity within the profession, but also highlights the need for transparency from Xero.

  • Mentioned: James Ashford, Mark Wickersham, Xero

• 02:27 - Is Xero Going to "Tell Off" Aaron?

  Aaron jokes about getting in trouble with Xero for his critical posts, leading to a discussion on how software companies handle public criticism from partners.

  • Mentioned: Dext (formerly Receipt Bank)

• 03:12 - Dext Wants to Be Friends Again

  A brief tangent reveals that Dext has been in touch to rebuild the relationship after past disagreements.

• 04:02 - Xero's Missed Opportunity with Its Community

  Aaron points out that Xero's greatest asset is its loyal community, and recent marketing moves have alienated them instead of strengthening the relationship.

  • Mentioned: ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers)

• 08:00 - The Week Dominated by Xero

  The hosts formally introduce the main topic: the series of controversies surrounding Xero that have dominated social media.

• 08:52 - Xero's Direct Filing Service & Why The Backlash Is So Big

  The discussion covers Xero's £120 micro-entity accounts filing service, with Johann arguing the backlash is significant due to Xero's large and historically loyal follower base.

• 10:18 - The Three Big Xero Mistakes

  The hosts outline the three core issues: the social media influencer campaign, the new "micro accounts" service, and the broken "auto reporting" feature.

  • Mentioned: Xero, QuickBooks Live

The MTD Watch Series returns for a crucial debrief on the very first live MTD for ITSA pilot quarter. With submissions colliding with summer holidays, how did accountants and their clients actually cope?

This episode is for any accountant or bookkeeper navigating the MTD transition. Join hosts Aaron Patrick, Suzannah Whelan, and Amy Hancock as they share their personal experiences and dive into a new industry survey where over 75% of respondents called MTD a "bad idea." They discuss what's actually working in practice: from segmenting clients (DIY to "shoebox") and setting clean-up fees, to the software workflows that get the job done.

The team also gets tactical on policy, debating whether MTD thresholds should be scrapped and arguing against deadline extensions that could harm real-time benefits. You’ll learn how to pre-empt admin pitfalls, tighten client communications, and structure an “MTD-first” onboarding plan.

Listen now to get a real-world perspective on where the profession stands and what it all means for the future of digital tax.

We're celebrating 200 episodes by looking at the future of AI and security in the accounting profession. Aaron and Johann are joined by special guests Amy Hancock, Tim Wood, and Charlie to break down the biggest tech news, starting with GOV.UK's long-awaited adoption of passkeys and how it can make your client interactions faster and more secure.

They also discuss the surprising new device from Plaud—smart earbuds designed to capture meetings and act as an interface to your entire knowledge base—and explore Claude's new built-in browser and how it stacks up against ChatGPT. Reflecting on the journey to 200 episodes, the team shares insights on consistency, content creation, and what's next for the podcast network, including the return of 'Being an Accountant to Boss'.

This episode is for any accountant looking to stay ahead of the technology curve and learn from the highs and lows of building a successful podcast.

A major milestone is here: our 200th weekly episode is next week. In this episode, Aaron returns from a busy week of system improvements, while Johann shares highlights from hosting visitors at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Royal Military Tattoo. We take stock of our journey—nearly 400 shows across the network and over 1,200 videos on YouTube—and officially invite you, our community, to take part in the celebration.

You’ll learn exactly how to send us a short voice note with your favourite moments, what the show means to you, or a message for the hosts. Submit via WhatsApp, Instagram, or LinkedIn direct messages, and we’ll feature selected clips in our Bank Holiday special. Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just found the show, we want your voice in episode 200.

Tune in now for the details and get involved in Ask the Accountant history—send your voice note today.